Optical instrument and method of treatment



W. A. DIXEY' Sept. 20, 1932.1

OPTICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF TREATMENT Filed Dec. 5, 1929 other eye.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 FFICE WALTER ANDEEsoNDIxEY, DEcEAsED, LATE 0E LoNDoN, ENGLAND, BY FANNY D EBE DIXEY, ExEouTEIx, 0E LoNDoN, ENGLAND, AssieNoE,. BY MEsNE AssIeNMENTs, To 0. w. DIXEY & soN LIMITED, or LoNDoN, ENGLAND 1 v r I OPTICAL Ns EoiiENT ND METHOD OF TREATMENT Application filed December 5, 1929, Serial No. 411,963, and in Great Britain becember 27, 19 28;

This invention relates to an optical instrument. j

The object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for'the development of the sight of a dormant or'a'mblyopic eye and also for exercising eyes with other defects. The object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for providing physical and psychologic conditions contributing to the establishment, stimulation, control and "development of coordination between the tactile senses of the dominant hand (right, hand in righthanded individuals and left hand in left-handed individuals) and the sense of sight as aroused through either eye or both eyes, and for coordination of the functions of the two eyes of a pair with each other through association with the dominant hand.

Preferably in conjunction with the lenses there is provided a mirroror mirrors which are so arranged as to allow'an object to be seen through the lens for one eye only and thereby cause a ghost image of the object to be thrown upon the field of view of the Lenses may be, when desirable, mounted in a frame shaped to support the forehead with the eyes in a correct position to use 'the lenses as in a binocular instrument. Preferably a mirror is'mountedin such a manner that it can be quickly and easily brought into the required position for exercising either the right eye or the left eye, said mirror being so arranged that it is frictionally retained in its adjusted position. For. use in conjunction with this mirror one or more upright platforms or holders forthe object to be reflected into the field of vision are provided at the sides of the instrument and said platforms or holders maybe interchangeable at will. r

The base of the instrument is preferably formed with a tablet or drawing pad, positioned at right angles to the line of vision.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing whichshows one example of construction of the instrument in which the instrusurface, and showing the platform or holder for the object-located at the left-hand side the instrument with the platform or holder for the object removed.

Fig. 4 is a face view holder detached.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the base only of the instrument taken on the line V'-V in Fig.2.

f the platform or The instrument shown in the drawing com v prises a horizontal frame 1 forming a hollow base having upstanding su ports 2 at its rear,

which supports carry at teir upper'ends a horizontal forwardly extending plate 3 with an integral'forehead support 1, in which the lenses are mounted in a similar manner to that in binoculars an'dsimilar optical instruments. 'Thus, by bending over the instrument, the head can be rested on thesupport with the eyes in the correct position to use'the instrument. The lenses'5 of which there are 2 are mounted in the plate 3.

Beneath said plate 3 and located centrally of the lenses is fixed a bearing 6 forthe spindle v'7 of a double-faced mirror 8. The bearing 6 is provided at one side with a sector 9 and the spindle 7 is provided w th a sector.- shaped projection 10, with aspring 11 carrying a projection 12, which-passes through a hole 13 in the sectorlO, the arrangement being such that whenthe mirror is n position and the spindle is retained by the key 14 passing through a hole near the end thereof, the spring forces the projection 12-into engagement with the sector 9 and into slots 16 therein, so as to retain the mirrorin one or three positions,

one of which is shown in full another which is shown in linesv in Fig. 1, 0

the third of which dotted lines in Fig. 1, and

is shown in chain dotted lines in Fig.1, thus the mirror can be swung through'its central position to the left or to the right according to the eye which is being exercised or tested and is resiliently held in the desired position. By removing the key "14:; the mirror can be easily removed from the instru ment by withdrawing its spindle 7 from the bearing '6. I The horizontal frame 1 is provided at both sides with, clamping screws 19'adapted to retain in'uprig'htplatfomiQO having guides 21 with spring fingers 22 in which is slidably mountedand resiliently held a plate 23. On

. this plate-23 is mounted -a-holder24 for-a representation of the object to be thrown onto the field of vision. This holder 24-i'sprovided with a rearwardly extending screwed shank 25 which passes "through a boss-26 in the plate '23 .andis. adapted to be clamped to.

the plate in any adjusted position by means 'of; the thumb-nut 27. -By-.loo'sening the nut zz'fflthegholderfl i can beturnedrangularly into.

. any suitable position. The holderfor the representatiommay be otherwise fixed; upon .ohbeformedby the. plate-23.. The upright platform and the holder fonthezrepresentationzmay :be detached and :ma-y be interchanged by-asimil-ar deviceor the-holder maybe mountedat theopposite side ofthe instrument. JVhen the holder ismonnted at the left-hand side as.shown-1in.Fig.-;1, the mirrorSwill-bfe turned tothe, left as shown in *full' linesiinFig. :1. lVhen the upright platform and the holder for the representation lisqmountechat the :righthand-side of Fig. l,

- thegmirror18x-will be turnedtoextendto.- the rightehandi side-,--.as shown .infchain dotted lines in -Eig; 1. r is 7 T a The horizontal framelserves asa receptacleforlayersa Qf"paper.-27., which. are carried; on slide; 28 which is;pressed. upwardly .by means ofthesprings -29.fixed on:a detach- .ablebase plate 30. which isretaine'd'in posi tiongby the turn. clips-531} Thelslide 28 11s =10 normally ;r.etainedl-against movement outwardly horizontally. of the-frame by means of the angle piece 32 engaging with the spring :29, -With this. arrangement vail-con- -venient-pad is formed on-the baseof the inistrument in which the stop layer of the pa.-

--per always kept in thedesired position -relatively. to the lenses, e. .g...at the focal length:ofthe lenses Hinged'fingers 34 are-fixedftogthe sideof the instrument so .thatthe instrument may be -retained in. atiltedPosition toaiforda more convenient position fonthepatient.

' When using the instrument, "for. instance in the treatment of, squint, a representation ssgof the object will. be placed upon one of the holders therefor and this will be fixed by gmeansoftheupright platformat one side of 5 the, instrument: and the mirror 'will, be swung to fa, corresponding side of: the instrument -69 after; which thepatient will loolrwith .both eyes throughthe lenses. .One eyewillsee the tablet or-pad. The other-eye will-seethe representationof'the object. reflectedin the mir- 'ror, on the drawingpad upon which the pa tient can indicatewith-hishand'i the position a of any feature of the image, or trace the image on the pad, and by utilizing both the hand and the eye in the education of the dormant or amblyopic eye increase the patients power of concentration and persistence and thus train and exercise the said eye and develop its sight. Many other illustrative uses of the device can. be devised or will '-readily suggest themselves to the operator whereby the use 'of 'the device may befrenderedentertaining to the patient-J TF-or instance a checkerboard may be used as the object and the patient'canpractice by placing a checker. or chess man;in aparticular spot on the board as reflected on the pad or tablet. V

Various modifications of the structure, of

-.the;devi c e willalso' readily suggest .themselves to those skilled in theart, but within the scope of thepresentinvention as claimed.

' What is-claimed as the invention anddesired tobe-secured by LettersPatent is 1.. An instrument for-training the-ocular muscles and for-development of theisight jojf a dormant or amblyopic eye-comprising a frame shaped: to form a support..for,a. patients forehead, lenses spaced apart in:-said frame one for eachof the patients eyes, an upright platform for carryingran; object,

means for detachablymountingsai'd platform 'to;contain-;1oose sheets of paper, a raised sup iport for the patieniis forehead, lenses in said raised support one for eachof thelpatienfis eyes, an-upright platform forcarrying. an obect means for detachably mounting said-upright platformat either endpfsaid bas'e,,a -mirror between said lenses and said base and support adapted. tofthrowya reflection. ofzthe object-into the field of view of oneeye' comci'ding with the paperin said f'rame as seen directly by the other eye.

frame with a basefhaving an opening in its top,.a slide'adapted to carrysh'eets ofpaper and to be slidable. into :and out of th'ekb'ase, .means for spring pressing saidslide upwardly inzsaid-base, a raised support for the patlents forehead, .anupright. platform for carrying an object, means for 'detachably mounting said upright platform at either end of said base, a mirror between said lenses and said base-a'nd-support adapted tothrow a reflection "of the obj ect into the fieldofsview ofv one eye 3.. An instrumentfor} training the ocular.

coinciding with the top sheet of paper in said frame as seen directly by the other eye.

4. An instrument for training the ocular muscles and for development of the sight of a dormant or amblyopic eye comprising, a frame with a base having an open top adapted to contain loose sheets'of paper, hinged extensions on said base adapted to allow this to be tilted into a convenient position, a raised support for the patients forehead, an upright platform for carrying an object, means for detachably mounting said upright platform at either end of said base, a mirror between said lenses and said base and support adapted to throw a reflection of the object into the field of View of one eye superimposed on the paper in said frame as seen directly by the other eye.

5. An instrument for training the ocular 2O muscles and for development of the sight of a dormant or amblyopic eye comprising a frame shaped to form a support for a patients forehead, lenses spaced apart in said frame one for each of the patients eyes, an upright platform, aholder for a representation of an object detachably and adjustably mounted in said upright platform, means for detachably mounting said platform at either side of the said frame, a mirror mounted between said 39 lenses and adapted to throw a reflection of said object into the field of view of one eye and a tablet positioned in the field of vision of a person whose head is supported on the rest and accessible to his hand. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FANNY BEEBE DIXEY, Ewec-u tm'm of the Estate of Walter Anderson Davey, Deceased. 

